[Mark Stark]

Guys, I have poor character apparently. Thanks j. Baker for pointing that out.

Where did J. Baker say this about you? You call someone out by name like that you should be able to substantiate such a accusation.

 

[rippinryno]

Hope you are doing well Mark. I have chosen to stop feeding you, i hope its better for both of us that way!

 

[Mark Stark]

Hope you are doing well Mark. I have chosen to stop feeding you, i hope its better for both of us that way!

I'm doing very well, thank you! As to my appetite....well, it's insatiable! Catch you around 👋

 

[Mitty87]

OP should get a job as a diaper changer.

 

[GreenGo13]

As a former Golf Course Superintendent I managed crews anywhere from 20 to 50 employees over a two decades span. Now I run a solo lawn business. I can tell you without a doubt the type of people who generally will work golf and lawn care are literally unemployable. Yea you get a good one occasionally but don't expect it. Don't do it. Stay solo raise prices if needed. I mow 4 days a week and a couple commercials on Saturdays and keep a day for doing irrigation work and actually running my business. Set hours. That's a big one. Don't take calls after hours you set. Learn to say no and be firm with customers. If not you'll forever be considered a lawn guy and not a business owner. I highly doubt you'll get a return of 60-70% on a hire. More like 15-20% would be more realistic.

Thanks for the good advice.

 

[GreenGo13]

OP should get a job as a diaper changer.

Clarification please?....

 

[Mitty87]

Clarification please?....

Its similar to having employees

 

[GreenGo13]

Its similar to having employees

Got it. I was a step behind on that one. lol

 

[Mitty87]

Got it. I was a step behind on that one. lol

I thought of it after I made the comment, didn't mean no offence by it

 

[FLC2000]

find 1 or

As a former Golf Course Superintendent I managed crews anywhere from 20 to 50 employees over a two decades span. Now I run a solo lawn business. I can tell you without a doubt the type of people who generally will work golf and lawn care are literally unemployable. Yea you get a good one occasionally but don't expect it. Don't do it. Stay solo raise prices if needed. I mow 4 days a week and a couple commercials on Saturdays and keep a day for doing irrigation work and actually running my business. Set hours. That's a big one. Don't take calls after hours you set. Learn to say no and be firm with customers. If not you'll forever be considered a lawn guy and not a business owner. I highly doubt you'll get a return of 60-70% on a hire. More like 15-20% would be more realistic.

I still think most people are just looking in the wrong place or dont know how to lead and be a good boss.

Sure I have had my share of knuckleheads but I have also had guys who have stayed for years. I set my boundaries so guys know exactly who they are working with and what I expect from them. They are either all in or gone and they weed themselves out quick.

I tell them this from the start.

You show up to work and take pride in that and at the end of the week Ill trade your week of work for a paycheck. On the other hand, if you want to play games do it somewhere else.

 

[GRANTSKI]

The big problem as a solo it is very hard to cover your fixed expenses / overhead with 40 hours per week / seasonal. Even one employee helps absorb the costs so you can actually KEEP more of what you bring in (especially from your own labor).

 

[sjessen]

The big problem as a solo it is very hard to cover your fixed expenses / overhead with 40 hours per week / seasonal. Even one employee helps absorb the costs so you can actually KEEP more of what you bring in (especially from your own labor).

Solo, 40 hour work weeks and seasonal don't result in a good income level for most. 60-70 hour weeks during the spring rush and 40-50 during the shoulder seasons are necessary.

 

[GRANTSKI]

find 1 or




I still think most people are just looking in the wrong place or dont know how to lead and be a good boss.

Sure I have had my share of knuckleheads but I have also had guys who have stayed for years. I set my boundaries so guys know exactly who they are working with and what I expect from them. They are either all in or gone and they weed themselves out quick.

I tell them this from the start.

You show up to work and take pride in that and at the end of the week Ill trade your week of work for a paycheck. On the other hand, if you want to play games do it somewhere else.

I agree it’s a self defeating attitude. I used to think the same way about employees but I kept noticing plenty of thriving companies with big crews & started to think differently. One thing that sticks out to me is seeing certain hardscape crews … especially on Fridays… music is pumping - working hard but joking around with each other and enjoying their work - taking pix of their work cuz they are proud of it. I thought to myself if this type of work atmosphere exists … there’s no reason myself and others can’t create the same thing. Closer I look at other successful there is definitely somewhat of a “family” atmosphere that creates a good team and loyalty. It can’t be forced but from what I’m seeing w my few employees it can definitely happen w the right crew and leadership . Another big one is giving employees a path to success whatever that is .. at the least built in anual raises.

 

[Derwood]

Many really good comments. I would also look at another angle with the OP (and none of this is meant to be antagonizing at all, Sir). I would ask rhetorically what the rest of your lifestyle looks like. Are you physically in shape? Mentally alright other than the work part? Do you eat well? McDonalds and Taco Bell, or packing healthier stuff? Got good kicks on your dogs? What's your alcohol intake look like - none, daily, weekly, excessive, one here or there? What's your sugar intake look like - water, soda, beer, all of the above? How much? When? Are you sleeping? How much? These are just a few of the small things that can take a toll.... slowly.

Might sound stupid to some or many, but a lot of those things play a role in how your days go.

 

[Scott87]

Back to the OP and being solo. I just reread the post and its time to start learning how to say NO. You should have the customer base now to foot your expenses. Get that 5 day mowing schedule done in 4 days and that leaves friday and maybe saturday for the other projects. You want your existing customers to call you when they want additional work done. It doesn't mean you have to do them all and when you pass you should have someone to pass the bigger ones to. If you keep going 7 days a week you will burn out and all your work start to suffer. Being solo is a whole different ballgame from running employees. I find the small residential lawns are well suited for the solo operator and you got to know when to pass. I work for a couple that are doctors, they approached me about some venture they have going and I immediatley said its not in my wheelhouse to mow commercial properties, that was the end of the discussion and while I kinda wanted to know more what he was talking about it was just left at that.

 

[FLC2000]

If I was going to go back to being solo the only thing I would do is charge more. I just wanted the business I would lowball. Horrible mistake and it was a tough hole to dig out of.

My trailer consisted of a 48, 36, push, 2 trimmers, one BP blower and one hand blower. I did about 40 small residentials M-T and Fri was saved for either a rain day or extra work day for things like mulch or plantings. If I had nothing to do then it was a 3 day weekend. Gotta know your limits.

It really wasn't till my kids started to get a little older, maybe 6 or 7, that I realized I was missing too much time with them. Then I started to actively hire.

 

[FLC2000]

I agree it’s a self defeating attitude. I used to think the same way about employees but I kept noticing plenty of thriving companies with big crews & started to think differently. One thing that sticks out to me is seeing certain hardscape crews … especially on Fridays… music is pumping - working hard but joking around with each other and enjoying their work - taking pix of their work cuz they are proud of it. I thought to myself if this type of work atmosphere exists … there’s no reason myself and others can’t create the same thing. Closer I look at other successful there is definitely somewhat of a “family” atmosphere that creates a good team and loyalty. It can’t be forced but from what I’m seeing w my few employees it can definitely happen w the right crew and leadership . Another big one is giving employees a path to success whatever that is .. at the least built in anual raises.

Its what I try to provide. Once a month dinner, yearly bonuses, ill drop lunches off occasionally, gift cards for local convivence stores, 5 gallon ice water coolers on the trailers.

Its not hard. Just treat them how you want to be treated.

 

[Youngandfree]

Absolutely not. I was blessed with a growing business from the beginning and it just kept snowballing. I do good work and people say I am very nice. I don't even advertise anymore as 95% of any new work I get is from referrals. I just didn't know how to put things in the right perspective soon enough and things kind of got ahead of me. What I am really looking for is how to keep my business manageable for just me and still make enough to be comfortable. I believe I could cut back on some of my clients/services offered, but I am a little nervous about that as it might be hard to recover from if it doesn't work out like I expect.

Increase prices and cut back on volume.

 

[JFGLN]

If I was solo.

• I could get overhead extremely low
• Cherry pick the best clients
• Charge a premium for my services - $100 plus per hr
• Limited mowing, focus on high profit services
• I would keep some commercial accouts as I enjoy doing those

I would still higher a helper. Why not make $200 an hr and do the things above.

 

[gardiner]

The big problem as a solo it is very hard to cover your fixed expenses / overhead with 40 hours per week / seasonal. Even one employee helps absorb the costs so you can actually KEEP more of what you bring in (especially from your own labor).

As a solo, I get to keep most of what I bring in, My equipment is paid in full, & well taken care of, I'm only putting 5 ish hours a week on the VR2, In the 2 days that I mow, The life cycle of my equipment, lasts longer than the write offs, Its put me in a higher tax bracket.